Another day, another Englund's Cafe & Catering visit.
I had run some more errands again today, but much earlier in the day, so after having done so I made my way down to Englund's, and arrived a bit after 11am, which is their opening time.
Upon entering the shop this time, I immediately noticed something different than going there closer to closing; the place was packed. The few tables that were there already had people sitting there, chowing down on their sandwiches, and salads.
The line at the counter was to the door (not that it's that far away from the counter), but all of the staff were quick to go through the line, to make sure that everyone is being helped, and not just taking the queue one by one to the front of the counter and wait for the person to pay. They get started immediately after the order is taken by people behind the counter, and the cutting begins. They clearly know what it means to be in a rush during lunch, but of course, the quality isn't impacted which is the best part.
I got two tri-tip sandwiches again today as well (not both for me), but today I also wanted to add some extras onto the sandwich. Having taken a closer look at the menu after my last visit, I decided I wanted to partake in the avocado this time as well, and also add on some chipotle mayonnaise to my sandwich. No regrets with the decision I made today. The avocados were a nice surprise because when I typically see avocado on a menu, it's usually slices of avocado. However, their avocado is actually guac style, so the texture just works perfectly with the meat, and tasted great without going too far into the guac, but still wholly avocado tasting. While the avocado may be hit or miss for some people, I do want to highly recommend the chipotle mayonnaise for those who enjoy an extra added layer of flavor to your sandwich from the sauce perspective. I will be honest, but the barbecue sauce for me last time wasn't particularly my favorite, but wasn't bad. However, after adding the chipotle mayonnaise to the sauce, it felt like I was experiencing a much different flavor profile than I had previously, and the barbecue sauce just had many more profiles to it, as if it was a new sauce of its own. It added sweetness, and a small kick (people who are afraid of spice, it's not bad at all) at the end to bring it all together. I will definitely go with this combo in the future.
My final note this visit is really about the atmosphere of the place. As mentioned previously, my last visit was somewhat a bit more quiet due to it being passed the lunch rush. This time, I was able to see a bit more of the shop, and the way the employees interact with the customers. Customers might even be a stretch, as it almost seems the majority of them are just long time regulars, and they all know each other by name, and just had a very homey feel to the place compared to what I was able to experience last time.
Overall, another fantastic experience at Englund's, from the food, to the price, to the staff, to the owner; they were all exceptional, and I am more than happy to say that I will certainly look forward to being one of the regulars in the future. read more